I purchased a really nice certified 2013 R55 Clubman S. It has all the options except navigation. No idea why the original owner buys almost all the options and saved the $750 for navigation upgrade. Anyway I decided to look for an used nav head unit and took on the project. I have learned a lot during the whole process. Will try to share it to help anyone else taking on the project.

Media options in my car:
620 – Voice Control
655 – Sirius Satellite
674 - Harman Kardon
6FP – Mini Visual Boost
6NE – Bluetooth and USB Audio
6NF – Smartphone Integration
6NM – Mini Connected
6VC – Combox
507 – PDC (it passes visual information to the head unit)

Here is a list of items for the retrofit:
1. Mini Navigation Receiver (CIC unit from 2011) – I was able to find one for $275 on ebay. I verified the donor car has the same options I have. The only option the donor car doesn't have is PDC. Make sure you get the VIN of the donor car.
2. CIC emulator for BMW E9x. The CIC unit is linked to VIN. In order to retrofit the new receiver, one must get the new activation code from BMW/Mini or a emulator (PNP activation module) to bypass the VIN check. There are many cheap ones from China selling for $80 on ebay. But based on my research some of them may not work properly with the PDC option. Decided to go with the one from BimmerRetrofit for $480. It’s a bit expensive but all the reviews on the BMW forums have very positive feedback on it. It now also allow user to program different options. see the link
http://bimmerretrofit.com/store/inde...y&path=157_160
Note: emulator will provide activation for navigation, voice command and video in motion (VIM).
3. GPS Antenna. I know my car has the outboard antenna with satellite, AM/FM, and cellular reception. I know the same antenna also has GPS reception. I am not sure my car is wired for GPS to the back of the receiver. I purchased a GPS antenna incase there is no GPS connection. It’s only $10 on ebay. You need GPS antenna with FAKRA connector.
4. BMW USB cable and connector to the glove box for navigation map update. Not necessary but figure I install it anyway while I am doing the retrofit. The receiver I got is a US version from 2011. I don’t believe the map changes much from 2011 to 2014 in the area I live.
Cable - http://www.ecstuning.com/ES2702820/
USB connector - http://www.ecstuning.com/ES2627287/
5. Optional: FSC code for navigation map upgrade. About $250 from BMW/Mini. Or from 3rd party for much cheaper – about $50. You can also get lifetime code too for another $50 to $100.
6. Optional: Updated 2014 North America MOVE map for Mini. I downloaded my copy from torrent.

 

did it work?

 

Sorry. Since this was my first time posting I was unable to post more than the first message until it was reviewed by the moderator.

Here is a list of concerns based on what I read from others that did the retrofit:

1. PDC may not work properly after the retrofit. I can’t really get much detailed information about it. One of the post I read indicated the cheaper Chinese emulator might be blocking the PDC script. This is also one of the reasons why I went with the CIC emulator from BimmerRetrofit
2. Dynamic Music and Driving Excitement may not sense speed. Again not much information on the forum about why. Looks like most of the emulator provides Video in Motion bypass. I think these bypass ignore speed sensing from the car. The CIC emulator from BimmerRetrofit specifically states that speed sensing is still in tact. Will find out if the extra money I spend on the emulator is worth it
3. Not sure if Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI) will work. Can’t find any information online.
4. Coding. From what I read I will need to add either $606 or $6UM for navigation and $6UH for RTTI. Also will need to remove Visual boost 6FP from VO. Other potential coding requirement – PDC car graphic. My car is R55. The donor navigation receiver is from R56.

 

So here is the results....... Everything works.

A few things I learned during the retrofit

1) This is the video I used to take apart my dash. I did not have to take the whole speedo thing out. I was able to just remove the head unit without removing the speedo unit.

2) Instruction for installing PNP activation module. It was very simple. Note prior to the installation Bimmerretrofit program the module for E9x cars but with E7x PDC. See # below for more information.

Note: See the image attached. From right to left
Upper Right: AM/FM antenna (this is normally black color)
Right Pink connector: Sirius Satellite antenna
Blue connector: GPS antenna (connector to the external GPS antenna purchased). I simply tape the antenna to the top of the speedo before I close up the dash.
USB connector (this is the Beige color) goes to the USB connector in the glove compartment. Use the USB cable and connector purchased. This was wired to the glove box. This is for navigation map upgrade.
USB connector (this is the Pink color) goes to the combos.

http://www.bimmerretrofit.com/downlo...Manual_PNP.pdf

3) Reinstalled the head unit but did not completely reinstall the dash to test it out.

4) Code the car by adding $6UM for navigation, $6UH for RTTI and remove $6FP from VO. Default the CHAMP and PDC module.

Initial Result:
1) Navigation works. Have to leave the car outdoor for about 15 mins for the navigation to determine the car location. This is normal for GPS to download location data. RITT (Real time traffic) works.
2) PDC did not work. It takes 10 secs for PDC image to come up after I put my car in reverse. Also the Green/Yellow/Red "radar" image does not come up.
3) Mini Connected apps like Dynamic Music, Driving Excitement and Radio speed sensing did not work. Apparently the PNP Activation module cuts the speed sensing to activate video in motion (VIM)
4) VIM works. I was able to play video with my iphone4 when car is moving.
5) As I expected the MOVE map in my retrofitted unit is from 2010. I ended up buying a FSC code online for $30 and updated my map to 2014 MOVE map. Also confirm the USB connection to the glove box works.
6) Sirius radio works. Apparently the old subscription is still in the head unit. Will see how long it will last before it gets turn off by Sirius

Final result:
After contacting Bimmerretrofit for help, they told me about iClick technology for the PNP activation module. see link below
http://bimmerretrofit.com/store/inde...y&path=157_160

UNFORTUNATELY it does not work with Mini Cooper. I emailed Bimmerretrofit and they sent me the firmware to update the module. But I ended up program the module with my 2013 BMW X5.

Here is what I did
1) Remove VIM (video in motion) option from the PNP activation module. I ended up code my car for VIM. This eliminate the issue I have with speed sensing for Mini Connected apps like Dynamic Music, Minimalism and Radio speed sensing.
2) I set the PNP module to vehicle option -
"5-2-3 E8x/E9x Rear View Camera for Automatic Transmission with PDC option"
If you don't have automatic transmission or PDC, select the E9x car with the proper option

Up to this point I was able to get the PDC to show the Green/Yellow/Red "radar" image but it still takes 10 secs after the car is in reverse for the PDC image to show up

2.5) I was able to get the reverse to engage immediately after I program
"5-1-4 Block CAN ID:3AF from PDC to CIC"

Viola everything is now working..........

Last update: After about two weeks my Sirius radio subscription was revoked. I ended up re-subscripe Sirius for the retrofit head unit.

I wrote this up because I was not able to find much information in the forums. I decided to share what I did to help anyone trying to do the same thing. Note the biggest cost was the PNP activation module. As I stated earlier, you can get one on ebay for about $80 from China. It provides navigation FSC code and VIM. But PDC probably won't work. Also since there is no way to disable VIM, the Mini Connected apps that requires speed sensing probably won't work (Dynamic Music and Driving Excitement etc.) Even though the module was very expensive (about $500 including shipping from Canada), I was glad I spent the extra money. The iClick technology was really cool. Bimmerretrofit told me they are planning to implement iClick technology in Mini Cooper. If you decide to order the module, make sure you inform them the iClick options you need so they can program the module for you.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

 

I have read mixed reviews on the CIC emulator over at Bimmer forums. The one from China doesn't display the info and the real good ones are $500+.


Glad to see it worked out for you.


The blue is the NAV antenna? Hmm. My connection is beige which is usually BT antenna.


Post pics of your car.

 

Hi. First time in here so not sure if this post is in right reply place.

Very nice to see such in depth info on how to do this.

Some points I need to check as still unsure.

I have visual boost with display at present.

I have seen a genuine mini navigation drive and screen if I need it but think my screen is suitable as its the to type monitor type not the one in the link pic.

I have Bluetooth with voice control and dab radio as well as pdc and Usb/aux point.

Are these stored in the visual boost drive or will these all be lost after I change units. Do i need to get one with these functions on the new navigation in order for it to be what spec I have already.

If I changed the units above I then need an emulator? E9x with E7x PDC. Is this the same for my mini version?

Once I have the emulator which I presume is the bimmer retrofit iclick module? To programme the settings to allow it to work?

Would I need to take to any other gge for coding for any reason.

I understand I may need additional gps antenna. I already have a usb point under centre console of which you state I must also configure in the emulator/module?

Then it should all work inc the pdc? Not fussed above video in motion. You state Sirius radio stopped so how would I re-subscribe or what would I do. I have dab does that make a difference.

Lastly what is FSC code.

I've done a lot of changes in other cars but not to this extent and I'm desperate for this to work on my mini.

I apologise if I sound ignorant but am good at doing this stuff and need to understand it a bit more in order to get this completed hopefully with these questions answered.

If this does fail can I just remove it all and put old units back in for it to work as it all did prior or will this be no return job.

Thanks and hope someone replies to help me.

 

Hello, I made the same retrofit but my USB, AUX and BT not working. The beige cable came from car to Visual Boost has no input on Navigation System. Does your have a combox? Please reply me asap. Thank you.